#women in stem
For our #WomeninSTEM campaign, we asked 40 women what inspired them to pursue a career in STEM.
Curiosity, excitement of unravelling the scientific principles that rule life, and fascination with how the world works, were the top reasons given by the participants.
Some women mentioned that role models, such as parents with science, engineering or clinical degrees, or even inspirational and supportive teachers at school, played an important role in their interest and attitude towards science.
Others stated that what drives them is knowing they are making a difference to people’s lives. For some, a STEM career was simply a safer choice for finding employment.
Whatever their reasons, the bottom line is that these amazing women have found passion in their daily jobs and are making an impact in the world that surrounds them.
Have a read on the participants’ responses:
Agnieszka Wabik, Co-Founder and Director of WATT. She is also a Freelance Scientific Consultant. She received her BSc in Biological Sciences from The University of Edinburgh and went on to complete Masters and PhD in Stem Cell Biology at University of Cambridge.
Alex Skeaping, Industry Partnerships and Commercialisation Officer at Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London. She completed her MSci in Geology at University of Bristol, MSc in Aquatic Resource Management at King’s College London. She went on to receive a PhD in BioSciences at UCL
Alice Taylor, Scientist at Qkine. She received her BSc in Biomedical Science from University of Kent and went on to do a MPhil in acute myeloid leukaemia from University of Cambridge.
Anais Barut, CEO and co-founder of DAMAE Medical. She received a Masters in Engineering from the Institut d’Optique and went on to do a Grande Ecole Program: Major Entrepreneurship (MBA Program) at the HEC Paris Business School.
Bakul Gupta, Ph.D., Founding Director at ImmTune Therapies. She received her BSc in Nanotechnology, Diploma in Innovation Management and PhD in Nanotechnology at UNSW Australia. She went onto do postdoctoral research in Nanotechnology and Chemistry at Imperial College London
Catherine Elton, CEO and Founder at Qkine. She completed both her MSci in Natural Sciences (Biochemistry) and PhD in Biochemistry at University of Cambridge
Charli Howes, VP Operations at PhoreMost Ltd. She completed her BSc in Biomedical Sciences at University of Southampton and her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at The University of Reading. She has also completed a CIPS Diploma at Cambridge Regional College.
Clarissa Rios Rojas, Founder and Director at Ekpa’palek and Research Associate at Centre for the Study of Existential Risk at University of Cambridge. She received her PhD from University of Queensland in Developmental Molecular Biology.
Crystal Ruff, Senior Executive – Life Sciences & Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) at EY-Parthenon. She completed her BSc Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at McMaster University and MBA International Business at London Business School. She went on to receive her PhD in Neuroscience at UCL
Dr Emma Davenport, Group Leader at Wellcome Sanger Institute. She completed both her MSci in Biochemistry and PhD in Clinical Medicine University of Oxford
Ewa Warchol, Senior Associate, Clinical Strategy at KCR. She completed her MSc in Biotechnology at University of Lodz and MSc in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at University of Chicago. Ewa went on to receive her PhD in Biochemistry at Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München
Filipa S., VP of R&D, Tissue Engineering Start-up (in stealth mode). She completed her PhD in Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine at University of Cambridge and her MSc in Biological Engineering at Instituto Superior Técnico
Geraldine Baekelandt, Applications Scientist, IRUBIS. She completed her BSc in Chemistry at Univerisity of Liverpool and MSc in Nanotechnology and Regenerative Medicine at UCL. She went on to receive a MRes in Sensor Technologies and Applications and a PhD in Nanoscience at University of Cambridge
Helen Savage, MSc, DipRCPath, Deputy Head of Clinical Services and Product Manager at Congenica. She completed her BSc in Microbiology at Imperial College London and MSc in Clinical Genetics at University of Nottingham
Íris Luz Batalha, Director, Co-Founder & Editor-in-Chief Women Ahead of Their Time (WATT). She is a Research Associate at University of Cambridge and Peterhouse. She completed her BSc in Applied Chemistry, MSc in Biotechnology & PhD in Bioengineering Systems at Universidade Nova de Lisboa MIT Portugal Program
Jane Lomax, Head of Ontologies at SciBite. She completed her BSc in Genetics at University of Liverpool and received her PhD in Population Genetics at University of Cambridge.
Dr Julia Wilson, Associate Director at Wellcome Sanger Institute. She completed her PhD at University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Karolina Zapadka, Director & Co-Founder at Women Ahead of Their Time (WATT). She is the Head of Life Sciences Accelerator at Babraham Research Campus. She completed her MSc in Chemistry at Jagiellonian University, MSc in Physical Chemistry at Lundt University and PhD at the University of Cambridge.
Laura Butler, Team Leader at PhoreMostLtd. She received a first-class honours BSc in Biological Sciences at University of Warwick. She went on to receive her PhD in Molecular Cell Biology at King’s College London.
Louise Jopling, Commercial Director Eastern Academic Health Science Network. She completed her BSc in Zoology at University of Aberdeen and went on to receive a PhD in Immunology at Imperial College London.
Luana Ferrara, Senior Protein Scientist Qkine. She received her BSc in Biotechnology at Università degli Studi di Palermo and completed a MSc in Functional Genomics at Università degli Studi di Trieste. Luana received her PhD in Biochemistry at University of St Andrews.
Lydia Mapstone, Co-founder & CEO of BoobyBiome. She received a first-class honours BSc in Biology at University of Bristol and completed MSc in Synthetic Biology & Biotechnology at The University of Edinburgh. She is currently completing her PhD at UCL.
Madeline McNamara, BD Manager at Allcyte. She completed her BSc in Biomedical Sciences with Pharmacology at The University of Edinburgh and her MSc in Pharmacology, Neurobiology & Physiology at Université Côte d’Azur. She received her PhD in Regenerative Medicine at University of Cambridge.
Margaux Naepels, Project Manager at Air Liquide Healthcare. She completed her MSc in Chemistry at École Normale Supérieure de Lyon and went on to study a generalist engineering diploma at MINES ParisTech with a major in biotechnology.
Marion Perrin, Co-Founder Women Ahead of Their Time (WATT). She is a Wellcome Trust PhD student. She received a BSc & MSc in Biosciences at École normale supérieure de Lyon, an Engineering degree at MINES ParisTech, and a MSc in Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cell Biology at University of Cambridge.
Martyna Popis, Co-Founder and Director at Women Ahead of Their Time (WATT), Scientist in AgenTus Therapeutics. She received her MRes and PhD in Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cell Biology at University of Cambridge, and her BSc in Genetics at The University of Edinburgh.
Mira Kassouf, Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Oxford MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Co-Founder & President at Innovation Forum. She completed her BSc in Medical Laboratory Technology at American University of Beirut, MSc in Medical Genetics at Brunel University London and PhD in Molecular Biology at University of Oxford.
Natalia Jimenez-Lozano, HPC, AI and Quantum Life Sciences Centre of Excellence Director at Atos. She completed her BSc in Biochemistry at Universidad de Granada and PhD in Molecular Biology at Universidad Autonoma de Madrid.
Ola (Aleksandra) Wlodek, Co-founder & COO at Reflection Therapeutics. She completed her MSc in Biotechnology at Jagiellonian University and went on to do a PhD in Biological and Biomedical Sciences at University of Cambridge
Olivia Cavlan, Head of Business & Operations at Alchemab Therapeutics. She completed her MBChB in Pre-Clinical Medicine at Guy’s King’s and St Thomas’ Medical School. She then went on to complete both her BSc Pharmacology and MHChB in Clinical Medicine BristolUni.
Rachel Nelson, Head of Cellular Generation and Phenotyping (CGaP) Core Facility at Wellcome Sanger Institute , with a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology at University of Liverpool.
Rebecca Jones, PhD, Public Engagement Manager, Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. She received first-class honours in BSc in Biochemistry and went on to do her PhD in Biochemistry at University of Bristol.
Saba Shirvani, a biomedical engineer for the EU Horizon 2020 NICI project and a PhD scholar with her work focusing on translational medical imaging in healthcare at the University of Cambridge.
Suzanne Dilly, CEO at VALIRX PLC. She received her BSc in Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry and went on to do a PhD in Organic Chemistry at Loughborough University.
